Hold Me Tight: Heartbreakers by Cait London Page A

is particularly unique, made by a local family, the Stepanovs.”
    Howard’s expression tightened with anger. “You didn’t return my calls and the resort’s switchboard operator was uncooperative…so was the manager, Mikhail Stepanov. The Amoteh is one of the Mignon International chain, and I immediately called his boss. It seems as though Mikhail is well seated in the resort chain—he’s married to the boss’s daughter and apparently he is top dog there.”
    Jessica fought smiling, which would only antagonize Howard, and he was unpredictable when very angry. “What business did you have with me that was so important it couldn’t wait for a few days? I never take a vacation and I needed a rest.”
    “You’re a workhorse, Jessica. You never rest. I’ve seen you handle a twenty-hour workday and then take care of my father. What are you up to?”
    She didn’t want to tell him that Willow’s calls had disturbed her and that she’d gone to help her friend. It wouldn’t do to let Howard know that anyone was particularly close and dear to her. “What is the real problem, Howard?”
    He lurched to his feet and walked toward the immense windows overlooking Puget Sound. He turned to her and his eyes glittered savagely, taking in her loose white silk blouse, neatly tucked into her practical but flowing black slacks. Aware of his unsteady nature, she never dressed casually when Howard might appear, needing all of her shields, her protections.
    “Alexi Stepanov. You were with him, weren’t you?” Howard accused.
    “That’s none of your business, Howard,” she said, pushing down her anger. Howard had steadily inferred that she was his private property, just waiting for him to claim her, an inheritance of sorts from his father.
    Howard shot facts at her like bullets. “You’re a rich widow—my father’s estate is in your hands and the majority of stock in a family-owned business. Fifty-one percent makes you quite appealing. Stepanov is a down-on-his-luck Wyoming cowboy. He started a ranch, built a house and had to sell. He’s probably licking his wounds by taking the crumbs off the family table—he’s a cousin of that Mikhail Stepanov.”
    Jessica did smile then. Alexi wasn’t the begging sort. “You work fast, Howard. And you said all that before.”
    “He’s out for your money. Don’t have anything to do with him.”
    That curt order caused her to frown. If he chose, Howard could make life difficult for Alexi. “That’s my business, Howard.”
    He slammed his fist down on her desk. “I’m making it mine.”
    In the next instant he had reached down and clamped his hands around her upper arms. He jerked her up against him.
    “You’re mine,” he raged huskily against the cheek she turned to him, avoiding his kiss.
    Jessica heard the door open—Audrey was always protective of her when Howard was near—
    But Audrey stood at the side of a tall man with windswept brown hair and glittering ice-blue eyes. Alexi was wearing well-worn jeans and a denim jacket over a red-plaid flannelshirt—and an aura that bristled, narrowing the world to the drama between Howard and himself.
    Her senses leaped, not with the fear of Howard but with a blast of pure happiness—She could almost feel herself in Alexi’s arms, feel his heart beat against hers, as if he were the other part of her. She wanted to go to him, to have him hold her, to wrap her arms around his shoulders and tug his head down for a long, sweet kiss—and then she winced as Howard’s fingers tightened on her arms.
    “Don’t look at him like that,” Howard ordered roughly. “Look at me.”
    “Let her go—now,” Alexi Stepanov ordered, his words quiet and dangerous. Without breaking his stare at Howard, Alexi sailed his tan Western hat onto a leather sofa. “Now.”
    “Get out,” Howard growled.
    Jessica understood the danger in the set of Alexi’s body—that firm, dangerous stare. She eased away from Howard. “Howard, you’d better